The Rumour Mill: Monday’s news and gossip

Neil Lennon was send to the stands at the interval. Picture: Ian Rutherford

In today’s Rumour Mill: All the latest from yesterday’s Old Firm fixture; Brian Kennedy steps up his interest in taking over Rangers; Zenit St Petersburg target Aiden McGeady for a £15m deal; plus all the rest of today’s football news and gossip

The aftermath of yesterday’s Old Firm clash - the familiar cocktail of controversy, adrenaline, hot-headedness and sheer excitement - is splayed on the slab of today’s back pages, ready for the cold-eyed post-mortem examination of Rangers and Celtic fans, the latter of whom were denied a title party in the den of their fiercest rivals as Rangers emerged 3 - 2 winners.

Amid the perfunctory round of post-match interviews stood a furious Neil Lennon, who was sent to the stands at half-time and was allegedly left wanting for an explanation as to why he was dismissed by referee Calum Murray. Moreover, match delegate Willie McDougall had apparently recounted a version of events that differed significantly from that of Lennon’s, though Lennon said that his account could be verified by several witnesses.

Of his dismissal, Lennon said: “I went to see him [Murray] at half-time. He told me that I was warned about my behaviour - I said yes, but what was wrong with my behaviour in the tunnel? I didn’t get an answer.” (The Daily Mail)

Lennon added that, upon his sending off, officials advised him “not to sit in the stand. I can’t sit in the stand for my own safety. It sums things up in this country.” (The Sun)

Sources close to Brian Kennedy, now one of the frontrunners to take over at Ibrox, tell the Sun that in light of the court ruling on the Ticketus deal the Edinburgh-born businessman will accelerate his bid for the club. Over the weekend it was revealed that a fifth bidder, an as-yet-unidentified consortium from Singapore, had tendered a bid for Rangers.

The Sun also reports that Spartak Moscow winger and Celtic alumni Aiden McGeady is the subject of a £15 million bid from Zenit St Petersburg, who are confident that the promise of Champions League football can prise the Republic of Ireland international away from their fierce Russian rivals.